Multimode cameras

ABSTRACT

A multimode camera comprises means for independently setting an aperture and a shutter speed to their optional values, means for selectively setting an AV-TV characteristic line in accordance with the aperture and shutter speed which have been set by the independently setting means, means for storing the AV-TV characteristic line which have been selected by the selectively setting means in accordance with a lens identification number of a lens barrel mounted on the camera, and means for unequivocally reading out the AV-TV characteristic line which have been stored in the storing means in accordance with the lens identification number of the lens barrel when a power source is turned on and/or the lens barrel is mounted on a camera body.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 027,868, filed March 19,1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,812.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to multimode cameras, and moreparticularly, to multimode cameras which take a picture by optionallyselecting one of a plurality of photographing modes such as shutterspeed-priority automatic exposure, aperture-priority automatic exposure,programmed automatic exposure and the like.

Recently, most of the deluxe single-lens reflex cameras have themultimode functions which are capable of optionally selecting one of theautomatic exposure modes of shutter speed priority, aperture-priorityand programmed photography and a manual mode. Accordingly, aphotographer can take an intended picture by selecting a desirous onefrom these photographing modes each time of photographing.

However, since the mode selection for each photographing is actuallytroublesome, most photographers take a picture with the programmedautomatic exposure mode selected which is regarded as most advantageous.

Further, although such a camera system has a capability such that acharacteristic line of AV-TV for determining an aperture value and ashutter speed with respect to an exposure value EV can be optionallydefined is well known, it requires to redefine a most suitablecharacteristic line of AV-TV to a kind of lens whenever a lens barrel ischanged, so that such camera is troublesome to handle in practice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention, in view of the foregoing, toprovide a multimode camera which is capable of simply selecting aphotographing mode and a characteristic line of AV-TV from thephotographing modes and characteristic lines of AV-TV which have beenoptionally established on the camera side, in accordance with aphotographer's intention, whenever a lens barrel is mounted on thecamera.

According to the present invention, a multimode camera comprises meansfor independently setting a diaphragm aperture and a shutter speed totheir optional values, means for selectively setting an AV-TVcharacteristic line in accordance with the aperture and the shutterspeed which have been set by the independently setting means, means forstoring the AV-TV characteristic line selectively set by the selectivelysetting means in correspondence with a lens identification number of alens barrel mounted on the camera, and means for unequivocally readingout the AV-TV characteristic line stored in the storing means inaccordance with the lens identification number of the lens barrel when apower source is turned and/or the lens barrel is mounted on the camera.

In a multimode camera according to the present invention, when a lensbarrel is mounted on the camera and/or a power source is turned on, aphotographing mode and an AV-TV characteristic line which have beenpreset by a photographer are selectively read from a storing means inaccordance with an identification number of the lens barrel.

According to the present invention, since a photographer can select aphotographing mode, aperture, shutter speed and the like which are mostdesirable in accordance with photographing conditions when a lens barrelis mounted and/or a power source is turned on, it is possible to simplyand freely take an intended picture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric circuit for an embodiment of amultimode camera according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exterior top plan view of essential parts of the camerashown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing examples of AV-TV characteristic lines forphotographing modes of the camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a shifting operation of the AV-TVcharacteristic line for the camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing operations of a CPU shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electric circuit for another embodimentof a multimode camera according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a lens barrel for use in the camerashown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a front view of a card for identification numbers to becombined with the lens barrel shown in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, which shows a first embodiment of the presentinvention, a release switch SW₁₀, mode selecting switch SW₁₁, data inputswitch SW₁₂, shutter speed-up switch SW₁₃, shutter speed-down switchSW₁₄, aperture-up switch SW₁₅ and aperture-down switch SW₁₆ areconnected to a CPU (central processor unit) 2 in a camera body 1.Terminals of R/W, d₁, c₁, and ST of the CPU 2 are connected to a memorycircuit 3 comprising non-volatile memory elements. Signals aretransferred through data bus lines among CPU 2, exposure data inputcircuit 4, exposure control circuit 5 and display circuit 6. Terminalsd₂, c₂ and s₂ of CPU 2 are connected to a memory in lens circuit 8 in alens within a lens barrel 7 through signal terminals on a lens barrelmount, when the lens barrel 7 is mounted on the camera body 1. A voltage+B of a power cell 9 housed within the camera body 1 is applied toelectric circuits of the camera body 1 and the lens barrel 7 when apower switch SW₁₇ is turned on.

In FIG. 2, a release button 10, mode button 11 and memo button 12respectively correspond to the release switch SW₁₀, mode selectingswitch SW₁₁ and data input switch SW₁₂ so as to turn a correspondingswitch on when each of the buttons is depressed. A shutter speed settingring 13 is rotatably disposed around a mount for the lens barrel 7 onthe camera body 1. When the ring 13 is rotated in the up (high speed) ordown (low speed) direction, the shutter speed-up switch SW₁₃ or theshutter speed-down switch SW₁₄ is turned on. In addition, an aperturesetting knob 15 is shiftably disposed on the rear lid of the camerabody 1. When the knob 15 is shifted to the up (stopping down) or down(opening) direction, the aperture up switch SW₁₅ or the aperture downswitch SW₁₆ is turned on. A power source operating member 17 correspondsto the power switch SW₁₇. A display member 18 comprising LCDs (liquidcrystal elements) is disposed on the upper surface of the camera body 1.The display member 18 displays a selected photographing mode, shutterspeed and aperture depending upon an output of the display circuit 6. Inthe upper row of the display member 18, photographing modes, P(programmed), A (aperture-priority), T (shutter speed priority), M(manual) and S (special) indicating a previously selected photographingmode by a photographer, are displayed. In the lower rows of the displaymember 18, a shutter speed and an aperture are displayed in theirnumeral values. FIG. 2 indicates that a shutter speed is 1/500 secondand an aperture is F 5.6. When these data displays are those that havebeen written in the memory circuit 3, a display store is made at theright end of the lowest row in the display member 18.

The multimode camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can select one of variousAV-TV characteristic lines in accordance with a photographing mode, asshown in FIG. 3, and can set a new AV-TV characteristic line by freelyshifting the selected AV-TV characteristic line, as shown in FIG. 4.

Detailed functions and operations of the multimode camera will bedescribed with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 shows operations of the CPU 2 within the camera in the flowchart. First, normal photographing operations will be described. Whenthe lens barrel 7 is mounted on the camera body 1 and the power sourceoperating member 17 is turned on as shown in FIG. 2, the power switchSW₁₇ is turned on and the CPU 2 is enabled. In a normal photographingmode, since the mode button 11 is not depressed before the operatingmember 17 is turned on, it is decided that the mode selecting switchSW₁₁ is off. With this decision, the display store is not made on thedisplay member 18. Subsequently, in order to read lens data of thememory in lens circuit 8 in the lens barrel 7 mounted on the camera body1, the terminal s₂ of the CPU 2 is made a low level (hereinafterreferred to as "L") so as to select the memory in lens circuit 8.Thereafter, a clock signal is sent to the terminal c₂ to input serialdata which are delivered in synchronism with the clock signal into theCPU 2 through the terminal d₂. The lens data within the memory in lenscircuit 8 are lens information peculiar to each lens barrel 7 andrequired to take a picture, as shown in Table 1. A lens identificationnumber D₀, fully open F value D.sub. 1, minimum aperture D₂, focallength D₃ and the like are stored by address.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Address    Information in Memory in Lens Circuit 8                            ______________________________________                                        0          D.sub.0 (Lens ID number)                                           1          D.sub.1 (Fully open F value)                                       2          D.sub.2 (Minimum aperture)                                         3          D.sub.3 (Focal length)                                             4          D.sub.4 ( . . . )                                                  .          .                                                                  .          .                                                                  .          .                                                                  n          D.sub.n ( . . . )                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The CPU 2 stores the lens data inputted through the terminal d₂ in theirmemory areas.

Subsequently, the terminal R/W is made a high level (hereinafterreferred to as "H"). A clock signal is sent to the terminal c₁ so thatthe CPU 2 serially reads the data stored in the memory circuit 3 whichare delivered in synchronism with the clock signal through the terminald₁. Data shown in Table 2 are included in the memory circuit.

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                                   Photographing                                                                 Mode                                                               Lens ID number                                                                           ("0", "1", "2" and "3")                                                                        T.sub.1                                                                             A.sub.1                                                                           T.sub.2                                                                           A.sub.2                             ______________________________________                                        10         0                a.sub.11                                                                            a.sub.12                                                                          a.sub.21                                                                          a.sub.22                            23         1                b.sub.11                                                                            0   0   b.sub.22                             0         0                0     0   0   0                                   .          .                .     .   .   .                                   .          .                .     .   .   .                                   .          .                .     .   .   .                                   ______________________________________                                    

Checking a lens identification number D₀ (Table 1) stored in the address"zero" among the lens data previously read with all the lensidentification numbers in Table 2 stored in the memory circuit 3, theCPU 2 determines whether the same number is included. When the same lensidentification number as the lens identification number D₀ is found inthe memory circuit 3, the CPU 2 detects the lens identification number,and reads and decodes the following photographing mode data shown inTable 2 corresponding to the lens identification number. Photographingmode data in Table 2: "0", "1", "2" and "3" correspond to a programmedAE mode, shutter speed-priority AE mode, aperture-priority AE mode andmanual mode, respectively. Thus, the CPU 2 delivers a signal to thedisplay circuit 6 in response to the photographing mode determined bythe lens identification number to display it by the display member 18.At this time, the letter "S" which indicates the presence of a presetphotographing mode by a photographer is displayed together with thepreset one of photographing modes "P", "A", "T" and "M", as describedlater.

Thereafter, data T₁, A₁, T₂ and A₂ which correspond to the photographingmode of the same lens identification number as the lens identificationnumber D₀ in the memory circuit 3 are read by the CPU 2 to determine anAV-TV characteristic line from these data.

By way of example, assuming that the lens barrel 7 mounted on the camerabody 1 has a value "10" as its lens identification number D₀, as can beseen from Table 2, the CPU 2 decodes the data "0" of the photographingmode to display a programmed AE mode "P" together with the display of"S". Also, the CPU 2 reads data of a minimum shutter speed T₁ =a₁₁,fully open aperture A₁ =a₁₂, highest shutter speed T₂ =a₂₁ and minimumaperture A₂₂ =a₂₂ to select an AV-TV characteristic line ○P shown inFIG. 3 with a solid line. When the lens barrel 7 has a value "23" as itslens identification number D₀, the data "1" of a photographing mode isdecoded and a shutter speed-priority AE mode "T" together with thedisplay of "S" is displayed on the display member 18. Subsequently, theCPU 2 reads data of a present shutter speed T₁ =b₁₁ and a minimumapertuer A₂ =b₂₂ to select an AV-TV characteristic line ○T shown in FIG.3 with a dot-dash line. When data are not stored on the lines A₁ and A₂in the shutter speed-priority AE mode, values of A₁ and A₂ correspond todata of a fully open F value D₁ and a minimum aperture D₂ of the lens,respectively.

Furthermore although not shown in Table 2, when a lens identificationnumber D₀ of an aperture-priority AE mode is selected, a letter "A" isdisplayed together with the display of "S". Then, the CPU 2 reads dataof a present aperture c₁₁ to select an AV-TV characteristic line ○Ashown in FIG. 3 with a double dot-dash line.

After an AV-TV characteristic line is selected, the CPU 2 reads filmsensitivity information SV, object brightness information BV and thelike from the exposure data input circuit 4 (FIG. 1) to calculate anexposure value EV. A proper shutter speed TV and an aperture AV arecalculated from the intersection of a straight line ○E of the calculatedexposure value EV and an AV-TV characteristic line of each photographingmode and are displayed on the display member 18. In a manual mode, acombination of preset shutter speed and aperture is displayed. However,as is well known, it will be understood that a difference .increment.EVbetween the calculated EV value and the combination of preset shutterspeed and aperture may be displayed separately.

As described above, a photographing mode and an AV-TV characteristicline corresponding to a lens identification number D₀ of the lens barrel7 can be selected only by mounting the lens barrel 7 on the camera body1 and a shutter speed TV and aperture AV suitable for the characteristicline can be displayed on the display member 18. It will be understoodthat in the case of a shutter speed-priority AE mode, a shutter speedvoluntarily preset by a photographer is displayed and in the case of anaperture-priority AE mode, a preset aperture is displayed.

As a result of the comparison between a lens identification number D₀ ofthe mounted lens barrel 7 and the ones in the memory circuit 3, when thecorresponding identification number is not found in the memory circuit3, a photographing mode which is determined as the subsequent priorityorder, for example, a standard programmed AE mode, is set and displayed.At this time, the letter "S" is not displayed and only the display of"P" is made as a photographing mode. Thereafter, the CPU 2 reads thestandard programmed AE mode data, T₁, A₁, T₂ and A₂ to determine anAV-TV characteristic line ○P . A proper shutter speed and a properaperture are calculated from the intersection of the characteristic line○P and a straight line ○E of the exposure value EV and are displayed ina manner similar to the foregoing.

After the shutter speed TV and aperture value AV are displayed, the CPU2 again reads data in the memory in lens circuit 8 to determine whethera lens exchange is made. If so, the operation returns again to a flow ofreading data in the memory circuit 3. Then, the comparison of lensidentification numbers in the memory circuit 3 with the newly read lensdata is made. Thus, a photographing mode and an AV-TV characteristicline corresponding to the lens barrel 7 newly mounted on the camera body1 are selected and the photographing mode, a proper shutter speed and aproper aperture are displayed.

According to circumstances, there is an instance where a photographingin accordance with a photographing mode and an AV-TV characteristic linewhich are determined by a lens identification number of a mounted lensbarrel is not desirous. In such a case, a photographing mode can bechanged by depressing the MODE button 11 irrespective of anidentification number D₀ of the lens barrel 7. Specifically, everydepression of the MODE button 11 causes a cyclic selection ofphotographing modes in the order, for example, of programmed AE mode(P), shutter speed-priority AE mode (T), aperture-priority AE mode (A)and manual mode (M). Thereafter, the operation returns to a flow ofsetting and displaying a photographing mode. A voluntarily selectedphotographing mode is displayed by operating the MODE button 11. AnAV-TV characteristic line corresponding to the selected photographingmode is determined and a shutter speed TV and an aperture AV aredisplayed. In this case also, since the photographing mode is not presetby a photographer, the mode display is limited to only one of "P", "A","T" and "M" and the letter "S" is not displayed.

When a lens is not exchanged and the MODE button 11 is not depressed, aphotographing mode and an AV-TV characteristic line which are determinedby a lens barrel do not vary and a shutter speed TV and an aperture AVvary in accordance with a film sensitivity SV and object brightness BV.

After a photographing mode, shutter speed and aperture are displayed,the release switch SW₁₀ is turned on by depressing the release button 10and a picture is taken with the photographing mode, shutter speed andaperture displayed on the display member 18.

Next, the data reading operation for setting a photographing mode and anAV-TV characteristic line for each lens barrel will be described withreference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 5. The power source operatingmember 17 is turned on while depressing the MODE button 11. Then, it isjudged that the mode selecting switch SW₁₁ is on the routine for readinglens data is selected. Thus, when the routine is initiated, the displayof the sign store is made on the display member 18. In the routine, theCPU 2 reads lens data shown in Table 1 from the memory in lens circuit 8of the lens barrel 7 mounted on the camera body 1 in the same manner asin the normal photographing operation and stores a lens identificationnumber D₀ stored in the zero address in the memory in lens circuit 8, inits memory area. Thereafter, the CPU 2 awaits until the MODE button 11is depressed. When the MODE button 11 is not depressed, a programmed AEmode (P) is selected as a photographing mode and is displayed on thedisplay member 18. Photographing modes vary cyclically every depressionof the MODE button 11 in such a manner that one depression of the MODEbutton 11 brings a shutter speed-priority AE mode (T), two depressionsbring an aperture-priority AE mode (A) and three depressions bring amanual mode (M) and the photographing mode displays on the displaymember 18 also vary simultaneously. When the MEMO button 12 is depressedafter a desired photographing mode has been selected, the photographingmode is stored in a memory area of the CPU 2.

At this time, the CPU 2 displays a shutter speed and an aperture at thelower limit (a₁₁, a₁₂) of the proportional limits in the AV-TVcharacteristic line ○P of a standard programmed AE mode on the displaymember 18. Accordingly, when an AV-TV characteristic line different fromthe characteristic line ○P is set, the lower limit (a₁₁, a₁₂) is shiftedto a proper position. The shift is effected such that a desired shutterspeed is set by turning the shutter speed setting ring 13 in the up ordown direction and a desired aperture is set by turning the aperturesetting knob 15 in the up or down direction. Under the presentcircumstance, when the MEMO button 12 is depressed, the datacorresponding to the displayed shutter speed and aperture are stored inmemory areas of the CPU 2 as T₁ and A₁, respectively. Thereafter, ashutter speed and an aperture at the upper limit (a₂₁, a₂₂) ofproportional limits in the AV-TV characteristic line ○P are displayed onthe display member 18. Accordingly, when the point (a₂₁, a₂₂) also isshifted, a desired shutter speed and aperture are similarly set byoperating the shutter speed setting ring 13 and the aperture settingknob 15 to desired positions, respectively. Then, when the MEMO button12 is depressed, the data of the displayed shutter speed and apertureare stored in memory areas of the CPU 2 as T₂ and A₂, respectively. Thevalues T₁, A₁, T₂ and A₂ defines an AV-TV characteristic line ○Q , asshown in FIG. 4. Thus, it is possible to set the characteristic line ○Qhaving an arbitrary characteristic in an arbitrary mode on the basis ofthe AV-TV characteristic line ○P in the standard programmed mode by theshifting operation. The values of lens identification number,photographing mode data and T₁, A₁, T₂ and A₂ thus stored in memoryareas of the CPU 2 are forwarded through the terminal d₁ to the memorycircuit 3 while clock signals are transmitted through the terminal c₁ atthe time the terminal R/W is at the "L" level. Upon forwarding thesedata to the memory circuit 3, the CPU 2 effects non-volatile writing inthe memory circuit 3 by placing the terminal ST from the "H" level ofthe "L" level.

As described above, a photographing mode and an AV-TV characteristicline selected by a photographer are stored in the memory circuit 3 incorrespondence with a lens identification number peculiar to the lensbarrel 7 mounted on the camera body 1. Since the memory circuit 3comprises non-volatile memory elements, data stored therein such asphotographing mode will not be erased even when the power switch SW₁₇turns off or the power cell 9 is removed from the camera body 1 afterdata is stored in the memory circuit 3. Accordingly, after data isstored in the memory circuit 3, it is possible to move to the above flowoperations leaving the above stated conditions intact or only by turningthe power switch SW₁₇ on again after once having turned it off.Specifically, the operation of reading out the photographing mode whichas been set as described above in correspondence with a lensidentification number peculiar to the mounted lens barrel 7 is selected.

It is to be understood that it is possible to rewrite or erase data oncestored by repeating the above described operation.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. A multimodecamera shown in FIG. 6 employs a lens barrel 27 having a card insertingslit 27a at a portion of its outer periphery as shown in FIG. 7. A groupof conductive terminals 29 for reading a lens identification number ofthe four bit system are disposed within the slit 27a. One set ofterminals 29a₁ to 29a₄ in the terminal group are connected to a memoryin lens circuit 28 and the other set of terminals 29b₁ to 29b₄ aregrounded. An identification number card 30 having a conductive patternof four bit system corresponding to the terminal group 29, as shown inFIG. 8, is insertable into the slit 27a in the direction shown with anarrow Y. Specifically, the card 30 has four areas 30a to 30d which areto be in opposing relationship with the terminal group 29 of the fourbit system and which are selectively provided with a conductive pattern.Accordingly, when the card 30 is inserted into the slit 27a, oneterminal out of the terminal group 29 which opposingly abuts against theconductive pattern of the card 30 is short-circuited to the otherterminal to allow the memory in lens circuit 28 to read a four-bitsignal. The four-bit signal corresponds to the lens identificationnumber as described in the first embodiment. A lens identificationnumber is thus determined in accordance with a configuration of theconductive pattern of the card 30. In other words, in the secondembodiment an identification number which is formed by the conductivepattern of the card 30 is read through the memory in lens circuit 28into the CPU 2 when the lens barrel 27 with the card 30 inserted in theslit 27a is mounted on the camera body 1 and is compared withidentification numbers stored in the memory circuit 3. Thus, aphotographing mode and an AV-TV characteristic line which are stored inthe memory circuit 3 by the same lens identification number therein areselectively read out. Accordingly, it is possible to simply change aplurality of AV-TV characteristic lines to one photographing mode withone lens barrel 27 mounted on the camera body 1 by preparing a pluralityof cards 30 different in their identification numbers and by properlychanging these cards. In addition, it is possible to simultaneouslychange photographing modes.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera system, including a camera for use withany one of a plurality of interchangeable lenses, comprising:(a)variable setting means for variably setting a value associated with thetaking of a picture; (b) signal output means for outputting a memorysignal in order to store said variable set value in a memory area; (c)input means for inputting a different identification number assigned toeach interchangeable lens; (d) memory means for storing saididentification number inputted by said input means and said value set bysaid setting means in association with each other; (e) selection meansfor inputting an identification number responsive to the interchangeablelens mounted upon the camera; and (f) means for reading out from saidmemory means the variable set value associated with the identificationnumber inputted by said selection means.
 2. A method for controlling thephotographing operation of a camera capable of having any one of aplurality of camera accessories releasably mounted thereon and includingmemory means for storing data employed in the control of a photographingoperation and an identification number associated with said data; meansfor calculating the values required for performing a photographingoperation and means for controlling the camera according to thecalculated values, said method comprising the steps of:(a) assigning anidentification number to each camera accessory; (b) setting a valueemployed in the calculation of a photographing operation into the memorymeans, said value being associated with a particular camera accessory;(c) associating said value with the identification number for the cameraaccessory; (d) detecting the identification number of the cameraaccessory mounted upon the camera body; (e) selecting the said valuestored in memory associated with the identification number detected; and(f) providing the set value selected from memory to the calculationmeans.
 3. The method of the claim 2 further comprising the steps ofstoring standard program values in said memory; andselecting saidstandard program values from said memory when the identification numberof the camera accessory mounted upon the camera fails to compare withany of the identification numbers in said memory.
 4. A camera system,including a camera for use with anyone of a plurality of interchangeablecamera accessories, comprising:variable setting means for variablysetting a value associated with a taking of a picture; signal outputmeans for outputting a memory signal in order to store said variable setvalue in a memory area; input means for inputting a differentidentification number assigned to each camera accessory; memory meansresponsive to the camera accessory mounted upon the camera for storingthe identification number inputted by said input means and said valueset by said setting means in association with each other; a coded memberfor storing an identification number; each of said camera accessoriesincluding means for releasably receiving one of said coded cards foraltering the identification number of the camera accessory according tothe coded card mounted in said receiving means; means responsive to thecoded card contained within the camera accessory mounted upon the camerafor selecting the data in the camera memory associated with theidentification number presently contained within the camera lens.
 5. Anautomatic exposure setting camera capable of releasably mounting aselected one of a plurality of camera accessories theretocomprising:memory means in said camera for storing a plurality ofdifferent groups of data, each group of data defining an AV-TV line,each of said groups of data associated with a different identificationnumber; a plurality of coded cards, each of said coded cards containingone of said identification numbers; said camera accessory includingmeans for releasably receiving selected ones of said coded cards; meansresponsive to the coded card contained within said camera accessorymounted upon the camera for selecting that group of data in the cameramemory whose associated identification number corresponds with theidentification number of the coded card contained within the cameraaccessory mounted upon the camera.
 6. A method for controlling thephotographing operation of a camera capable of having any one of aplurality of camera accessories releasably mounted thereon and includingmemory means for storing data employed in the control of a photographingoperation and an identification number associated with said data; meansfor calculating the values required for performing a photographingoperation and means for controlling the camera according to thecalculated values, and a plurality of coded cards each containing adifferent identification number, said camera accessory including meansfor releasably receiving one of said coded cards, said method comprisingthe steps of:inserting one of said coded cards into one of said cameraaccessories; mounting said one of said camera accessories upon saidcamera; comparing the identification number of the coded card containedin the camera accessory mounted upon said camera with the identificationnumbers in the camera memory upon mounting of the camera accessory uponthe camera; selecting the data associated with the identification numberin the camera memory which corresponds to the identification number inthe coded card contained within the camera accessory mounted upon thecamera; and providing the data from the camera memory to the calculationmeans.
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of selectinga predetermined group of data from the camera memory when none of theidentification codes stored in memory compare with the identificationcode of the coded card contained in the camera accessory mounted uponthe camera.